Introduction
The city of Jerusalem has been a focal point of the world for many years. Even those who don’t understand its significance can’t help but be amazed by that. The Bible says that Jerusalem is a special place– there’s no city like it in the world. Throughout history it has been at center stage in the drama of redemption.
The context of the book of Daniel is the Babylonian Captivity, when the Jewish people were captives in the land of Babylon. Psalm 137:5-6 shows their devotion to Jerusalem: “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.” The people would sacrifice anything before losing their love for Jerusalem.
What accounts for such commitment to a city? What motivated Nehemiah to return after seventy years and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 1- 6). Why have so many Jewish people immigrated to the land in recent years?
A. The Historical Past of Jerusalem
1. Its duration through the years
a) In the days of Abraham
The first time Jerusalem is mentioned in the Bible is back in Genesis 14:18. At that time the city wasn’t called Jerusalem, but Salem. Salem, which means “peace,” was most likely an ancient name for the city. Later it became known as Jerusalem.
Mount Moriah, a famous mountain in the middle of the city, was where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac, before God intervened and provided a ram. How fitting it is that before the city became the center of redemption, God established it as a place where He had provided a sacrifice.
b) In the days of Joshua
The first specific reference to Jerusalem is in Joshua 10. Joshua had led the children of Israel into the Promised Land. To them Jerusalem was just one more city to conquer, like Ai and Jericho. But God set His affection on that city and had great plans for its future.
Jerusalem is situated on a plateau, surrounded on three sides by valleys three to four hundred feet deep. As such Jerusalem had its own natural defenses. With only its north side on the same level as the surrounding topography, it was a relatively easy city to defend since there was only one way an enemy could attack it. It eventually became the possession of the Israelites.
c) In the days of David
Not much is said about Jerusalem until David became king. Having reigned seven years in Hebron, about twenty miles south of Jerusalem in a valley that was difficult to defend, David decided to move the capital to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:7). Jerusalem became the royal capital where David reigned for another thirty-three years. Also known as Mount Zion because of the hill on which the city of David stood, Jerusalem became the political, economic, religious, and social center of Jewish life.
d) In the days of Jesus
Jerusalem became the center of God’s redemptive plan from the birth of Jesus. Just down the road from Jerusalem is Bethlehem, the place of the Messiah’s birth. And just outside the city walls He died and rose again. At His return He will descend from heaven just next to Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. Then He will enter the city and establish His throne.
2. Its destruction by the Babylonians
a) The cause
Unfortunately the city God chose as the center for redemptive history became the object of misdirected zeal. When Israel departed from faith in God and was taken into captivity, it became obvious that the people had done well in remembering Jerusalem but had done poorly in remembering what made Jerusalem great. They recalled their love for the city, but had forgotten the place of God in their lives. That’s why God allowed the city to be destroyed and its people to be taken into captivity.
b) The consequence
Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful monarch of the Babylonian Empire, completely destroyed Jerusalem, making captives of its citizens as well as people in Judah. Jeremiah 52:12-15 records the overthrow of Jerusalem: “In the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, who served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem, and burned the house of the Lord, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire. And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls of Jerusalem round about. Then, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people who remained in the city, and those who fell away, who fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude.” However the captain left a few vinedressers and farmers to make sure the king received some product out of the land (v. 16).
Nebuchadnezzar obviously had two objectives in mind: By destroying the Temple, he assumed he could break the back of the Jewish religion. And by destroying the palace he nullified Judah’s political order. In 586 B.C. he succeeded, and so ended a great era.
3. Its domination by the Gentiles
a) Jesus’ prophecy
(1) Luke 21:24–The Babylonian Captivity was the beginning of what our Lord called “the times of the Gentiles.” Specifically He said, “Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Jerusalem was initially trodden down by Nebuchadnezzar. Jesus said it will remain downtrodden until the times of the Gentiles comes to an end.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
